Rubbishing reports that the Centre prevented Culture Minister Saji Cherian from going on an overseas trip, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan attributed the purported delay in granting sanction to the ‘inept and incapable’ State government machinery.
Mr. Cherian had to abandon his plans to travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain to participate in events organised by the Malayalam Mission after being turned back at the airport on May 10.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Friday, Mr. Muraleedharan pointed out that the State government had submitted an application for political clearance required to travel abroad only on May 9. The clearance was subsequently granted on May 11.